We had a great turnout for a holiday week, thank you to everyone that showed up. With about 22 people in attendance, including a few new faces, we had an average sized meeting.

The meeting kicked off with the first lady yelling, “Order!” When nobody responded El Presidente called the meeting to order. We went through business items first:

Holiday party will be at Matt’s house in January. Date is TBD.

Beer exchange will take place at the Holiday party. You have 2ish months to brew, get it done!

Dues for 2018 can be paid at any time.

If you want a work shirt, get Vince your cash.

Nominations for 2018 officers took place.

There are 5 officer positions, every one of them is open if anyone feels inclined to run and share their expertise. Listed below are the positions, the current officers, and the nominations.

President – Currently Sarah Hogue – Ryan Schatzke Nominated

Vice President – Currently Open – Jace Christianson Nominated

Secretary – Currently Scott Sery – Scott Sery Nominated

Events Coordinator – Currently Casey Hogue – No nominations

Treasurer – Currently Vince Grewe – Vince Grewe Nominated

You can nominate anyone up until the December meeting, simply email RBG or post on the RBG Facebook page. Elections will take place at the December meeting.

After business, Scott gave a spectacular educational presentation on the Complete History of Homebrewing (Abridged). The presentation was so amazing that three people swooned, and he signed 14 autographs afterward. See below for his notes in case you want to go fact check him.

The meeting continued with discussions on how to create the best beer ever, sampling of homebrews, and talks of Thanksgiving turkeys.

The Complete History of Homebrewing (Abridged)

Beer has a long history, as old as civilization itself.

12,000 years old

3,900 year old Sumerian poem contains the oldest known recorded recipe

These weren’t beer as we know it

There wasn’t malted barley, the science wasn’t understood

Some old recipes even called for barley bread instead of straight grains

These brewers were cultivating their own yeast strains in ill-cleaned equipment

Small scale so they could take it with them when they traveled

Middle Ages

Nearly all the beer brewed was homebrewed

Used primarily as a nutritional supplement, little was used to get drunk (unless you were rich)

The 1600s saw people specializing in beer turning it into a commercial product.

All styles were ales until around the year 1600, it wasn’t boiled

When it was discovered that wort was boiled, it led to vast improvements in preservation, consistency, and taste

Industrial Revolution

Latter half of the 1700’s

Boiling water was done on open fires, this led to a smoky taste and poor temp control

Steam engine internalized the fire leading to a better boil, thermometers helped control temp

1790 saw perhaps the biggest advancement, William Nicholson invented the first hydrometer leading to increased efficiency in the brewing process. It also helped to develop new styles, whereas before there was mostly just lagers and beers.

Brewing in the US

Homebrewing continued to expand despite the commercialization of beer

In the early 1900’s it saw a boom in popularity because of prohibition

But it started to fall from popularity because brewing wine was easier and cheaper, especially as supplies were harder to acquire. Organized crime took over, and put competition out of business.

Prohibition was repealed in 1933, but brewing at home was still illegal. All you could make was .5% ABV or less; essentially root beer.

It wasn’t until 1978 when Carter repealed the law by creating a new one allowing any adult to produce wine or beer for personal and family use (up to 200 gallons per year)

Since that time homebrewing popularity has steadily increased, leading to college classes on the subject, beer in a bag or Mr. Beer for starters, or elaborate setups like many of us have.